Consent to medical treatment

Providing consent to medical treatment (informed consent) is a very important moment, essential for the relationship with the patient during care.

There are few exceptions in which health professionals can intervene without the consent of the patient. They are basically emergency situations when lack of immediate action could endanger the patient's life.

The informed consent form allows patients to express their will and freely taken decision on whether to accept treatment after receiving all relevant information and treatment proposals from the doctor.

After receiving information from the doctor, the consent form allows patient to express their will on the basis of their awareness of the proposed treatment and freely deciding whether to accept it. Precisely for this reason, before making their decision, the patient has the right to ask all the questions considered necessary and obtain clarifications they wish from the medical and nursing team. The patient is at liberty not to  accept the medical services offered by healthcare professionals and has the opportunity to revoke consent already given at any time, even when the treatment has started (of course if this is possible without endangering the patient).

For many procedures (including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy for example), and always in cases of hospitalisation, the patient is asked to give their consent in writing, using a specific form.

One aspect on which it is necessary to have maximum clarity is that consent must be expressed by the patient. The wishes of the family members of an adult patient who is mentally capable has no legal value. In some cases, consent may be expressed by the patient’s legal representative. If the patient is a minor (where not  married and younger than sixteen), consent is expressed by the parents; if the patient is permanently incapable of understanding or unwilling, the consent is expressed by the guardian or the support administrator appointed by a Court.

The Bio-bank and informed consent for research

Scientific research is an integral part of IEO’s mission. We believe that innovative treatments can be offered by integrating clinical practice and research. The future of cancer research will be increasingly oriented towards personalised therapies; no longer standard treatment for breast, colon, prostate cancer, but a specific disease in any given patient. This scientific development requires an active and participating approach by the patient.

IEO has generated a Bio-bank of biological samples (IEO Bio-bank and Bio-molecular Resource Infrastructure (IBBRI) for the collection of biological samples and clinical information of the patients. As the active involvement of the patient assumes their correct information, IEO has created a series of communication tools and paths.

• Videos transmitted in the waiting rooms and on the website (see media gallery at bottom of page);
• Training of qualified personnel who can explain and discuss with the patient the forms containing the integral information

All the communication process described above results in a "Participation Agreement" to adhere to the IEO scientific research.

For more information: [email protected]